Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad traffic police and the Regional Transport Office (RTO) have penalised 70 school vans for violating safety norms and ferrying children in a dangerous manner during a special enforcement drive. Authorities inspected 181 school vans across the city and collected fines amounting to Rs 3.76 lakh from the owners of the offending vehicles.Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Vikrant Deshmukh told TOI that the surprise inspection was carried out over four days — June 29 and 30, and July 2 and 20. The drive covered Pimpri, Wakad, Sangvi, Mahalunge, Chikhali, Talawade and Hinjewadi.“We checked whether school vans were carrying children beyond their seating capacity. We also verified the fitness of the vehicles, registration documents and whether any previous challans had been issued against them,” Deshmukh said.He said action was taken against 70 of the 181 vehicles inspected and added that similar drives would continue as ensuring the safety of schoolchildren remains a priority.
